UKIAH -- The Ukiah Valley Medical Center (UVMC) was one of several locations that received a shipment of steroids that were voluntarily recalled after causing a meningitis outbreak in patients.

Manufacturer New England Compounding Center (NECC) recalled the compound methylprednisolone, which is used as an epidural injection for chronic pain.

UVMC selected the compounding center in spite of a 75-percent higher cost for the medication because NECC is a specialized "compounding-only pharmacy" dedicated to providing medications and services to patients and prescribers.

"The team of registered pharmacists at UVMC did not choose the product based on price," Heather Van Housen, UVMC's patient care executive, said. "The product was selected because it contains no preservatives or buffers that other pharmaceutical manufacturers offer that may cause higher risk of infection or other complications."

To date, no patients were admitted to UVMC with meningitis-type symptoms as a result of the compound.